The Time Bob Dylan Robbed Dave Van Ronk of One of His Greatest Songs

The Bob Dylan canon is full of stories both tall and true. It’s the good, the bad, and the ugly that makes Dylan the most prolific songwriter in history. On the note of the bad and the ugly, Dylan has done some infamous things in order to make it to the top. However, he’s not alone in that company. Regardless, one of the more controversial acts Dylan performed was when he stole Dave Van Ronk’s arrangement of “House of the Risin’ Sun.”

Dylan released the track on his 1962 debut album, Bob Dylan, though the song’s reformation started between Van Ronk and Dylan in Greenwich Village, New York. If one is familiar with “House of the Risin’ Sun,” they know it is one of the most covered songs of all time. Other musicians to cover the song include The Animals, Jimi Hendrix, Claude King, and numerous others. Nonetheless, Dylan’s cover has gone down as one of the most notable given its quality and nefarious history.

The Stolen Arrangement

Thanks to the song’s storied track record of covers, Dylan obviously didn’t steel the lyrics. Rather, he stole the musical arrangement Van Ronk created for the song. Particularly Dylan took Van Ronk’s technique of playing in A-minor, as well as the way he played the song. Which was a “descending baseline with his pinky and middle finger,” per Far Out.

Dylan took quite a liking to this version, as it was very unique compared to how it had been played in past covers. That being so, Dylan, without permission from Van Ronk, took the arrangement, went to the recording studio, and made one of the many jewels of his debut album.

Bob Dylan’s Folk Introduction

Even though Dylan’s musical catalog is enormous, his cover of “House of the Risin’ Sun” still goes down as one of his most haunting tunes. Despite his song being surpassed by the popularity of The Animals’ version released in 1964, Dylan still acquired massive amounts of success with the cover. Dylan didn’t obtain many tangible accolades with song, instead what it did for him was introduce his eerie and intimidating folk style to the world.

Hailing at No. 10 on the album, Van Ronk’s arrangement matched with some of Dylan’s changed lyrics makes for a quintessential folk tune about love, loss, and the harmful powers of addiction. In addition to introducing Dylan’s style to the world, it also introduced him as a musician who was not for the faint of heart. The song’s intensity, conviction, and melancholy can all be thanks to Van Ronk’s talent and Bob Dylan’s gall.

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